Benjamin M. Siemsen

This study shows that HDAC5 in the prelimbic prefrontal cortex reduces context-associated cocaine seeking but not sucrose seeking, altering synaptic gene expression and excitatory/inhibitory balance.

This paper identifies nitrergic interneurons as key mediators of cue-induced synaptic plasticity in D1 MSNs required for cocaine seeking, showing that targeting nNOS or mGluR5 blocks relapse.

This study shows that NPAS4 in the medial prefrontal cortex is required for chronic social defeat stress-induced anhedonia and dendritic spine loss, but not social avoidance or anxiety-like behavior.

This study shows NPAS4 regulates drug-cue associations and relapse-like behavior by controlling the activation balance between D1- and D2-MSNs in the nucleus accumbens.

The paper identifies a specific subset of nucleus accumbens neurons targeted by prelimbic cortical input that mediate cue-induced cocaine relapse but not sucrose seeking.

This study inhibits corticostriatal circuits in rats to show both PL-NAcore and IL-NAshell inhibition reduce cued methamphetamine seeking.

This study shows heroin self-administration and extinction alter astrocyte structure and dendritic spine morphology in the prelimbic cortex, effects reversed by N-acetylcysteine.

This study examines how chronic ethanol and LPS exposure alter microglial morphology in specific brain regions, revealing distinct morphometric changes.

The paper measures glutamate and nitric oxide release in the nucleus accumbens core during cocaine cue and novel context exposure in rats, finding differences in magnitude but similar temporal dynamics.

This study shows that MEF2C hypofunction in neuronal and neuroimmune populations causes MCHS-like behaviors in mice, highlighting its role in brain development and function.